The show must go on

ADVERSE weather conditions on show day in recent years and insufficient funds to meet eventualities of that nature has meant that the well established annual St Clears YFC Agricultural Show in west Carmarthenshire has faced something of an uncertain future.

ADVERSE weather conditions on show day in recent years and insufficient funds to meet eventualities of that nature has meant that the well established annual St Clears YFC Agricultural Show in west Carmarthenshire has faced something of an uncertain future.

However, terrific public support and the enthusiasm shown from local pedigree breeders last weekend could yet ensure the future success of the event which includes a highly commendable range of classes for beef and dairy calves and their young handlers.

Entries in the horse and pony sections continue to grow with new exhibitors continually coming forward, and the quality and number of the cattle and sheep on show were considered to be quite exceptional.

It was an outstanding day for pony breeders Valmai Thomas and her father, John Davies, who headed the equine divisions with their home-bred Show Pony, the five-year-old bay mare Mount Pleasant Arrabella.

They also took champion and reserve from the Riding Pony Breeding classes with the 10-year-old grey mare, Mount Pleasant Serenity - paraded by David McKenzie-Tolhurst - and the 13-year-old chestnut mare, Mount Pleasant Flowergirl.

These successes were enhanced as they saw the 8-year-old chestnut gelding, Mount Pleasant Stardust - third in the Horse of the year, 2005 - take the Show Hunter Pony championship for new owner, Ashley Thomas.

Heading the beef breeds and taking the overall cattle prize was the two-year-old home-bred British Blond bull, Fronfedw Virgil - supreme champion at Aberystwyth two weeks earlier and a son of Fronfedw Rhyd y Beirdd - the stock bull in the herd of Rhidian Davies.